New Delhi Office

Cluster Office for Bangladesh,

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Year 1 AC (After Coronavirus)

Pan India Online Essay Contest 2020

Essay Topic: The 21st century, with all its science and
technology, allows us to go to Mars and develop Arti-
ficial Intelligence. Yet, one virus brings us to a com-
plete standstill in a few weeks? Do you think there
should be changes in priorities for science and
research in future?

Abhishek Banerjee
Hindu College The contribution of science and technology has always been
University of Delhi, New Delhi a matter of debate. The famous political scientist Rousseau
said, “Thinking man is a depraved animal,” thereby highlight-
Category - Youth ing the bane of man's eternal quest for rationalism. Advance-
ment of science and technology has outpaced the develop-
ment of capabilities in human beings. 21st century is a shining example of the progress of
science- going to Mars is now a reality. Artificial intelligence is more intelligent than the
average human population. It is easier to wipe out a billion-plus population by ‘weapons of
mass destruction,’ and there are more such examples to depict scientific progress. Howev-
er, the question which confronts us is- “Has scientific progress been beneficial and effective
for us?”

COVID-19 has been an unpredictable phenomenon for science. The virus has brought
everything to a standstill for months. It has infected millions of people worldwide, thou-
sands have died because of the virus, economies are ravaged, global supply chains are
disrupted, and human sufferings are incalculable. Scientists and researchers all over the
world are trying to find a cure for this virus. When the vaccine comes, the damages would
be so much that it would take years to recover. So, should science and research change its
priorities in the future? The answer is 'yes'. Today scientific progress resembles the superior-
ity of the destructive capabilities, whether about armaments or helping us invade nature
under the pretext of development.

The advancement of science and technology has expanded the means to comfort human
beings. This has increased competition among us, which has often resulted in exploitation
and oppression of the weak. The gap between rich and poor has expanded and disturbed
social harmony. In similar ways, the gap between countries has also widened, and this has
inhibited global cooperation. States have also become powerful by the invention of new
weapon systems, which have increased geopolitical tensions. The cyberspace is often
invaded by forces whose interests are antithetical to the ideas of welfare.

From an environmental perspective, it can be said that it is now easier to clear acres of forest
areas in a short time because of the efforts of scientific capabilities. Now humans have
become more wild and fearful than wild animals. It is far easier to entrap an animal, and
consumption of ‘exotic animals' has become a status symbol. The irony here is that pieces
of evidence suggest that COVID-19 has a zoonotic source. Thus, it can be derived that we
have invited this virus to affect us.

Over the years, it is becoming evident that we lack empathy, respect, tolerance, and trust.
Unless we inculcate these values, humankind is destined to face calamities. It is not unscien-
tific to expect that science and research can fill up these deficiencies. Science is valid from
time to time and can also be proved wrong by established procedures. Thus, with time,
science must verify if it has worked for human welfare or has it worked for the contrary. We
must be able to distinguish between ‘good science’ and ‘bad science’. ‘Good science’ resem-
bles those scientific inventions that have reduced human suffering without disturbing our
ecological balance and have led to sustainability. ‘Bad science’ incorporates mostly those
inventions which have increased our destructive capabilities. Thus, research must prioritize
‘good science’ in the future. We also need more research in the field of cyberspace. The pro-
tection of digital citizenship should be a priority. In the future, science must focus on invent-
ing alternatives to water for people living in drought-prone areas, bringing qualitative
change in the lives of non-humans like animals and birds, preserving biological diversity,
reducing inequality among humans, and promoting gender justice.

Thus, a desire to change the priorities of science and research is inevitable. COVID-19 has
lifted our ‘veil of ignorance’ and has made us realize that science and research need to bring
qualitative changes. Scientific research should focus on ways to enhance human capabili-
ties rather than destructive capabilities. For scientific research to change its priorities, we
must increase the resources devoted to research and development. ‘Ethics of science’
should be kept into consideration while trying to grasp the new reality and focus on chang-
ing the priorities.
 New Delhi Office
Cluster Office for Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives,
United Nations Nepal and Sri Lanka
(GXFDWLRQDO6FLHQWL¿FDQG
&XOWXUDO2UJDQL]DWLRQ

Year 1 AC (After Coronavirus)

Pan India Online Essay Contest 2020

Essay Topic: The lockdown affected men and women

equally. At home, it also forced them for instance to
share household chores. Do you believe this crisis
will have long lasting consequences on gender roles
and stereotypes in the country?

Khushi Chindaliya
For centuries, Indian men are navigating the road to their
S.D. Jain Modern School
, aspirations that they are allowed to drive in. Meanwhile, most
Surat, Gujarat
women have been sweeping away their dreams with the
Category - Youth brooms they lift to clean dust of their house walls. The emer-
gence of the pandemic has brought multiple challenges and
an opportunity for us to steer clear from the gender barriers and clean the dirt that has
suffocated our society for generations. Choosing and following the right path in the lock-
down allow all gender groups to drive together freely.

Amidst the general hustle and bustle of the modern world, the pandemic has given us a
chance to pause and reflect. It can be viewed as the golden hour for people to realize the
futility of stereotypes and gender norms that we have mindlessly followed for generations.
Our society has pressurized all genders to act roles and assume responsibilities that it
deems fit. Thus, a small act of sharing responsibilities, in the form of household chores, can
bring big waves of change. It can enable us to shift the foundation of the norms that have
chained us from creating an equal and just world.

During the pandemic, men, including, but not limited to, famous cricketers, popular actors,
and influential political leaders have shared social media posts of washing laundry and
cleaning floors. In addition, media campaigns led by MenCare, initiated by UNFPA, on chal-
lenging gender roles and fatherhood are gaining more popularity with each passing day.
This has inspired a large number of young and older men alike to share equal responsibili-
ties with women. As a result, it has enabled a lot of women to take charge of their finances
and gain financial independence.

For too long, women have been forced to make career compromises due to family commit-
ments such as childcare and eldercare. The women who do work are also expected to finish
all household chores before they can participate in the paid workforce. In addition to shar-
ing responsibilities, the lockdown has also propagated the work-from-home culture in our
country. For companies, it has aided in cutting costs and enhancing productivity. Mean-
while, it has successfully created a flexible environment for women to work in, from the
comfort of their homes.

COVID-19 acts as a double-edged sword in the present global scenario. On one end, raising
awareness and making the right decisions will lead us to a bright tomorrow while on the
other, the pandemic can lead us to a dark future if challenges such as domestic abuse and
gender wage gaps are not addressed.

A report by the National Legal Services Authority suggests there has been a surge in the
counts of domestic violence cases after the implementation of lockdown. During domestic
and online violence, the abuser assaults, humiliate, and intimidates the victim. These acts
have a huge psychological impact on the abused and often cause chronic mental and phys-
ical health difficulties like sexual disorders, anxiety, and substance abuse. If active and effi-
cient online redressal systems, awareness campaigns, and emergency houses are not set up
rapidly, domestic and online violence will take deeper roots into society and become a new
normal of our lives.

While it is true that women compose 70% of the health and social sector workforce globally,
it is also true that more than 90% of economically active women in India are engaged in the
informal sector. The pandemic has pushed our country into a recession. The lockdown has
hit the informal sector hard, impacting women's employment opportunities, and widening
the already existing gender wage gap. It is difficult for women working in the informal
sector to access justice systems because of a lack of finances and social networks. The pan-
demic has made this process even more difficult for them. The government must introduce
socio-economic policies that help all women in mitigating these risks. It is crucial to under-
stand and respond to these challenges so that the lockdown serves as an opportunity to
eliminate gender-based discrimination in our society and enable us to choose a road where
everyone can realize their aspirations without facing gender barriers.
 New Delhi Office
Cluster Office for Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives,
United Nations Nepal and Sri Lanka
(GXFDWLRQDO6FLHQWL¿FDQG
&XOWXUDO2UJDQL]DWLRQ

Year 1 AC (After Coronavirus)

Pan India Online Essay Contest 2020

Essay Topic: Do you think that the COVID-19 pan-

demic will force us to redefine the quest for a better
use of our natural resources? Will there be a before
and an after for environmental issues? If so how?

Mrunmayee Prasad Chitale The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the human race with one
ILS Law College of the most uncertain and unpredictable times. With nation-
Shivajinagar, Pune, wide lockdowns and social distancing norms, the strongest
Maharashtra of the strong economies crumbled, lives and livelihoods were
in a fix, and issues related to mental health started surfacing.
Category - Youth All of us were forced to stay home, as it was a question of life
and death. However, in all the negativity that existed around, some news was like the silver
lining of dark clouds. While Delhi’s air quality improved, the residents of Sangwahini village
in Bihar managed to get glimpses of Mount Everest due to clear skies. As man stayed
indoors, helpless, nature healed of our sins.

The pandemic compelled us to pause and reflect on our relationship with nature. It
reminded us that our very existence depends on the environment. It made us realize that
man can be a ‘social animal’ only if nature permits. We depend on nature to satisfy our eco-
nomic want of resources and our mental and emotional needs of being able to interact
with other people in the society. In the words of Smt Maneka Gandhi, we realized that it is
not Ecology Vs. Economy. Ecology is the economy. Economic wheels won’t move unless
ecology allows them to. This pandemic reminded us that we survive because of nature’s
powers and benevolence.

An ancient Indian scripture beautifully encapsulates the ‘Nature of Nature.’

This scripture, in its very essence, means that the trees bear fruits out of charity, the rivers
flow with water out of charity, the cows give milk out of charity, and similarly, this human
body exists to do charitable deeds.
Thus, nature is the noblest philanthropist and we exist because of its benevolence and self-
less motherly care. However, we have perceived nature as a mere resource to satisfy our
wants. It is like treating your mother as a mere guardian for financial and physical suste-
nance without any reverence for her unconditional love and values that she embodies.

We have to stop perceiving nature as a mere ‘resource.’ We have to understand it as a

‘recourse’ to sustain our lives and livelihood, which have become so fragile due to our irre-
sponsible actions. We have to appreciate, acknowledge, and respect nature; its beauty, and
its power of creation and destruction. Environmental conservation should start with great
reverence for the environment in mind. This reverence should be reflected through our
day-to-day actions. Making eco-friendly choices while buying consumer goods, building
rainwater harvesting systems, avoiding wastage of food and water, making compost out of
wet garbage, and most importantly, being receptive towards the beauty of nature might
seem cliched and relatively insignificant to some people. However, such self-driven actions
will go a long way in developing a strong sense of duty towards the environment. If this
strong sense of responsibility is ingrained in our minds, it will reflect the policy decisions
taken on a larger scale.

This pandemic has made all of us pause and reflect. These testing times have proven to be
a learning curve for the whole world. It is disappointing that we started reflecting on envi-
ronmentalism only when we were ‘forced’ to do so. However, let us learn from our mistakes.
Let us change our compulsion into compassion. Actions arising out of compassion will yield
productive results and give a great sense of satisfaction.
 New Delhi Office
Cluster Office for Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives,
United Nations Nepal and Sri Lanka
(GXFDWLRQDO6FLHQWL¿FDQG
&XOWXUDO2UJDQL]DWLRQ

Year 1 AC (After Coronavirus)

Pan India Online Essay Contest 2020

Essay Topic: Culture and Crafts: How to be creative

when staying at home.

Staying at home to avoid the coronavirus, engaging in creative

Nivriti Bathla pursuits and contributing to sustainable living, is like hitting
Delhi Public School three flies with one slap. I believe that there is always a ray of
Sector-45, Gurugram, light and hope. The whole world is fighting the virus together,
Haryana we must keep our spirits high, and we shall come out of this
pandemic stronger than ever.
Category - Children
Creativity is all about exploring thoughts or ideas that are novel or diverse in some way
from the previous ones. It can be articulated through drawing, writing, singing, or learning
something new. Creativity is different for everyone, but everyone is creative in their way.

I believe that culture forms a huge part of who we are. Having visited many cultural places
like museums and art galleries, I realized that they are not just a showcase of great art but
also history, culture, and social issues through the eyes of great artists. During the lock-
down, I took a virtual tour of museums such as the oldest museum of India, the Indian
Museum in Kolkata, West Bengal, and Louvre Museum, Paris, while sitting at my home. I
must acknowledge that it was an enriching experience that I will always cherish.

It is important to have a unique space at home that you can be creative within. Your
creative space does not have to be an entire room, but having a distinct area for yourself to
be creative is essential. Limiting your movement to bed, then the desk, and couch, the bed
is not suitable for your body. Physical stagnation can lead to both mental and emotional
inertia, but this can easily be avoided by just designating a little bit of each day to move,
whether that’s light yoga and stretching at the start or end of your day.

Creative activities that I have done during the lockdown are reading various blogs, novels,
writing essays, and articles which widen my imagination. I have been doing a lot of art
these days, and it is a stress-buster. Mandala art specially makes me calm and is very thera-
peutic. Watching TED talks, and inspiring and educational videos by expert speakers on
science, technology and creativity motivate me immensely.

Though we cannot go out shopping, it does not mean we cannot revamp our clothes. One
can give a new touch to a simple t-shirt by tie-dyeing using natural dyes like turmeric, red
chili powder, which is usually available in every Indian household. I believe eco-friendly,
sustainable DIYs are the way to go. Make a popsicle stick shelf, use this DIY to keep a small
sapling or a showpiece, all you need for making this is inexpensive popsicle sticks. Contrib-
ute to a healthy environment by creating an herb garden.

Nonetheless, do not forget to help your parents in household chores like sweeping the
floor, washing utensils, running the washing machines and so on. I never thought I would
be interested in helping in the kitchen, but I have learned a lot about baking this summer
with my mother and thoroughly enjoyed it.

We are all going through challenging times but be opportunists and find opportunities in
every difficulty, and I promise you will not regret it. Make the most of this time and let your
creative juices flow!
 New Delhi Office
Cluster Office for Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives,
United Nations Nepal and Sri Lanka
(GXFDWLRQDO6FLHQWL¿FDQG
&XOWXUDO2UJDQL]DWLRQ

Year 1 AC (After Coronavirus)

Pan India Online Essay Contest 2020

Essay Topic: Not everything we find online is true!

Prisha Sharma “We should not be upset that others hide the truth from us,
R.N. Podar School when we hide it so often from ourselves”.
Santacruz West, Mumbai François de La Rochefoucauld
Maharashtra

Category - Children
The man gave birth to social media and the latter to rumors. Rumors are a lethal weapon
that affects the morale of the people. In a world where free time exists in abundance,
humans are bound to waste others' time, just for the mere fun of it. They do this with the
help of tittle-tattle. They recklessly pass off the information to any of their friends or family
members. Those who receive the said information pass it again to some other people,
thence the vicious cycle of lies. Therefore, online news or information spreads just like a
virus. Some rumors are funny while some are revolting; some are of politics while some
related to infotainment.

Let us take an example of the current pandemic situation. We all had heard that the cold
climate and snow cannot kill the novel coronavirus and the same virus will not be transmit-
ted in areas with a hot and humid climate. These rumors became false as the virus was in
robust health in hot or cold climates. Fake news was ubiquitous during the Indian General
Election in 2019. The elections was termed as ‘India's first WhatsApp elections’, with
WhatsApp being used by many as a tool of marketing. Further, the companies Vice Media
group LLC and AltNews wrote, "parties had weaponized the platforms" and "misinforma-
tion too were weaponized" respectively.

WhatsApp has become a breeding ground for forged videos, partisan messages, and
deception, thanks to a multifaceted system of obscurity. The aptitude to forward messages
effortlessly has allowed for the speedy spread of information, often without its original
content and always without a link to the novel author.
During this pandemic, the world is rebellious against the coronavirus while the authorities
are going through a rush of false news about this virus on social media platforms. Fake
news is complicating India’s war against COVID-19. Even before India reported it is the first
case of coronavirus, social media was prevalent with false posts, intrigue concepts, possi-
ble remedies, etc. Fake news tend to be spread by those who are ideologically inspired,
rather than being unfamiliar or digitally uneducated. There is a purpose behind them.

The ISRO housing colony in RPC layout Vijayanagar in Bengaluru realized that to relax the
people in the lockdown and coronavirus; they have to counter the spread of misinforma-
tion on WhatsApp. Presently, we cannot trust any forwarded information on WhatsApp.
The administrator of the residents’ WhatsApp group was tasked with vetting the content
and further making sure only information from reliable sources to be circulated. The news-
paper has become the only accurate source of information. Twitter stated that it would
start labelling fake news. The Indian government is fighting fake news by shutting down
internet contact. Linking Aadhar cards has been suggested to the Supreme court of India
and the Attorney general to stop the rumors from spreading in India and other to other
Countries. Even social media has linked hands to stop rumors from spreading. Three
people have also been arrested for spreading forged news on coronavirus.

Rumors are like wildfire and seethe for a long time. It is the responsibility of every citizen
to ignore these hoaxes and seek for more tangible things in life. A respectable man once
said- “Don't spread with your mouths, what your eyes did not see. The tongue weighs a
little but can crush a man”.

Let us all abide by this.

 New Delhi Office
Cluster Office for Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives,
United Nations Nepal and Sri Lanka
(GXFDWLRQDO6FLHQWL¿FDQG
&XOWXUDO2UJDQL]DWLRQ

Year 1 AC (After Coronavirus)

Pan India Online Essay Contest 2020

Essay Topic: Learning at Home during Lockdown: My

Parents and My Teachers

Shreyash Jena
“I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being
Indian Public School
Khetrajpur, Sambalpur, taught.”
Odisha Winston Churchill

Category - Children
COVID-19 has been ruining lives. Most of the world was in lockdown, with billions ‘impris-
oned’ in their homes. People were not enjoying the same kind of normal life as of before.
Even a full stop was put to physical learning at school. However, I did not stop learning,
which is not all about memorization but also practicing activities that make our lives more
exceptional. I found lockdown as an opportunity to create a masterpiece out of myself. My
parents and teachers were the real protagonists who ensured that my learning did not stop
during the lockdown.

However, the pandemic affected many lives but not the spirit of my teachers. They em-
braced e-learning methods and are co-operative throughout. Sharing of videos and
assignments and conducting online tests have become a regular feature. Additionally, they
encouraged us to participate in several online competitions. I won a few of them, and they
made me aware of my latent talents. Interestingly, from summer to monsoon, I have been
penning numerous essays, learning to express my perspective more intensely.

I substituted my friends with novels. I endeavored to learn different activities and values.
My parents had been an ultimate source for this. From my mother, I learned the values of
hard work, life skills like cooking and laying the bed, and the power of spirituality. My father
aided me in academics and taught me the significance of responsibility and punctuality
and to live through the pandemic sanguinely.
During this catastrophe, my family was strongly connected by playing games, relishing
homemade food, and exchanging real-life stories. This was exceptional but eternal. The
story of my father influenced me considerably. He narrated me how he helped my grandfa-
ther in his chores, went to college, studied under lantern's dim light, rendered tuitions, and
earned money. It is only his struggle that offers me a privileged life today. His story teaches
how one should be unrelenting in the toughest situation, and giving up is never the solu-
tion to anything.

I had always wondered how video games are coded. Despite my aversion to Computer
Sciences, I attended a virtual class on JavaScript coding. I was stunned after I invented a
small game. I started learning to code. On the contrary, I have always loved Mathematics. I
participated in the BRICS Math Competition, which showed me an alluring version of Math-
ematics. This lockdown altered my vision for my likes and dislikes.

With the decline in pollution level, I have learned to respect Mother Nature. As we incur
wrath in her, she too will do the same. I planted saplings, generating a sense of care for the
environment. Furthermore, I took the utmost care of my health through Yogasanas to build
stronger immunity. Moreover, I realized the importance of hygiene and cleanliness.

We all can stand adversity only if we have the skill that comes from learning. Learning is a
continuous process. When one stops learning, one stops living which is even more danger-
ous than a virus. Everyone can learn from everyone. My teachers and parents made me
learn that living with the crisis and conquering it is the only way to eradicate it. By learning,
I celebrated life more delightfully. I remember how an arid land in my backyard produced
good crops despite unfavorable conditions. When a barren land can yield good crops, why
cannot humans learn during a lockdown?
 New Delhi Office
Cluster Office for Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives,
United Nations Nepal and Sri Lanka
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Year 1 AC (After Coronavirus)

Pan India Online Essay Contest 2020

Essay Topic: The current crisis is showing the best

and the worst of humanity. Will a new form of solidar-
ity emerge at the end of the tunnel or do you think on
the contrary that previous trends of the last few years
(e.g. increasing nationalisms) will be enhanced?

Shubh Badhwar
Vivekananda Institute of
The unprecedented predicament that the world is now faced
Professional Studies with unveils problems that dismember the social, economic,
Pitam Pura, New Delhi medical, cultural, religious, and ethical foundations of our
society. I remember how a foreshadowing of the approach-
Category - Youth ing poverty blatantly stared down at me through the moist
redness in the eyes of a rickshaw-puller, whose small, wrinkled face frailly supported a
rather decrepit, angular frame, which was pulling a rickshaw in the sweltering heat of the
day. His request was simple - “Please buy me a meal.” I complied.

This incident looks minuscule, but it forms a microcosmic picture of the status quo: pover-
ty-stricken, unemployed society latching on to the hopes of a savior. But are we unified by
poverty? Or unemployment? Or failure to avail proper healthcare? The normative response
differs from the descriptive: we ought to be united, yet we stand more divided than ever.
The reasons for this shocking division are visible, given in view of the contentious trends
which mark this trying year.

The most alarming trend is the continuous deployment of biopolitics. Roberto Esposito, in
his article Cured to the Bitter End, claims this time to be a “paradigm of biopolitics,” and
goes on to use the terms “medicalization of politics” and “politicization of medicine”. The
former can be contextualized and stretched beyond the current definition of “curing” of its
citizens from risks the government is responsible for emphasizing; it can also be inclusive
of the absurd claim to cure thoughts that do not align with certain political ideologies. The
latter explains the difference in research results due to political bias but is also inclusive of
capitalizing on affected populace’s misery with the help of political influence.

Another problematic trend seems to be the misuse of states of exception.

Officials higher up in the hierarchy of organizations openly discriminate against employees
from specific backgrounds/locales, thus making their livelihood worse.

The undetected trend, which flies off the radar for most people, is ‘whataboutism’. Upon
being rigorously questioned, different authorities prevaricate by pointing in all the direc-
tion but the truthful one. A quick example: X questions Y on a decision Y made. Wha-
taboutism would be “What about the time X did that?” or “What about these other things,
which need more attention?”

The natural question that follows is: would we see any form of solidarity, to overcome this
misery and deceit, in the coming times? Sadly, this is not a polar question with a yes/no
response because of the multiplicity in understanding the term ‘solidarity’. The only way to
arrive at the possible outcomes is by gauging the aftermath of the aforementioned trends
and conducting an evaluation of them.

The first possibility that follows is that of negative unity. Unity and solidarity are similar and
are distinguished only by intention. The politicization of medicine may activate a state of
pharmaceutical monopolization, as has already been seen in the sale of insulin.

The second possibility, which is more probable given the Indian socio-political conflict, is
Majoritarianism. Medicalization of politics has engendered violent radicalism and hatred -
both being the crucial ingredients in the recipe for a hate crime. Unless the moderated Left
and Right bring about a more relativistic argument into the conflict, and discredit the
hate-mongers on both sides, it will be hard to evade the violent claws of extremism.

The effect of misery is unquantifiable, inexplicable, and, most of all, uncertain: for this
reason, I am forced to believe that the disastrous impact of COVID-19 will preach the lessons
of understanding and tolerance. Thus, the third possibility, which I favor, is solidarity of rela-
tivistic understanding, which teaches us the value of accountability, acceptance, and broth-
erhood. In crude form, this solidarity should acknowledge that the hour demands forgoing
our premonitions to demand accountability from those who exacerbate our suffering.

One may point out the ambiguity in the extent to which acceptance should be adopted
because complete approval would imply the acceptance of violent radicalism. The
response to this question cannot be theorized, but it affirms that this outcome is not utopi-
an; it is achievable.
 New Delhi Office
Cluster Office for Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives,
United Nations Nepal and Sri Lanka
(GXFDWLRQDO6FLHQWL¿FDQG
&XOWXUDO2UJDQL]DWLRQ

Year 1 AC (After Coronavirus)

Pan India Online Essay Contest 2020

Essay Topic: Stronger together and a new word for

us: Solidarity

COVID-19 is a quintessential illustration of the butterfly

Urvi Periwal effect, in which a disease outbreak in Wuhan city, thousands
Brightlands School of miles away has resulted in a disconnect from life as we
Rajpur Road, Dalanwala, know it. What we thought were trivial acts could now be con-
Dehradun sidered lapses, with governments asking us to compromise
our civil liberties to curb the spread of the virus.
Category - Children
Losing a heart is inevitable. However, instead of succumbing to despair and ennui we must
keep in mind that some people find themselves in a predicament they see no way out of,
are more likely to contract the disease, and suffer from a loss of income and even home-
lessness. Therefore, in such a crisis, those who have it better should exhibit solidarity with
those on the other side of the spectrum.

Solidarity, in its very essence, means ‘unity and agreement of feeling or action, especially
among individuals with a common interest.’ In societies where the virus has hit, acts of soli-
darity and kindness are burgeoning. This happens as individuals start to acknowledge the
crisis’s impact is worse in certain groups and how pandemics exacerbate existing vulnera-
bilities. Realizing their responsibilities towards those in need, people have taken it upon
themselves to do as much as they can to help.

In these disheartening circumstances, as neighborhood tensions continue to worsen, soci-

eties have implemented initiatives to help each other. Volunteers have made themselves
available to carry out tasks such as pet assistance, delivery of food and water, and checking
up on senior citizens and differently abled people. Fitness trainers and psychologists are
providing succor free of charge to help preserve physical and mental well-being. Addition-
ally, people have come forward on distributing masks and sanitizers to the vulnerable and
marginalized. Many restaurant owners have been benevolent enough to offer free meals to
the homeless and to people from lower income groups; and essential stores and pharma-
cies deliver groceries and medicine, respectively, to those in need.

If there were ever a time to acknowledge and honor the work of our frontline workers, this
is the time. While we are confined in the safety of our homes and continue to practise social
distancing, the frontline workers including the medical professionals, police, supermarket
owners and essential workers venture out in a world where contracting the disease through
a mere brush of hands is within the bounds of possibility. Therefore, showing solidarity with
these brave individuals and expressing our indebtedness is the least we can do.

It is imperative to understand that potential conflict between the needs and values of
different groups is unavoidable in a crisis. However, focusing on this divergence can only be
counterproductive. In the case of the current pandemic, and the ones that came before it,
the demonization of certain minority groups is ensuing. Some people have taken to calling
the coronavirus as the ‘Wuhan Virus’. We must show solidarity with East Asians who cannot
be held accountable for a virus that is merely global.

Whether we are confronting a pandemic, global warming, racism, or xenophobia, solidarity

depends on how we come together. It is not an act of charity, but mutual aid between
forces fighting for the same objective. The objective here is to overcome the pandemic, and
this can only be done if we put our differences aside, follow the rules and acknowledge that
we are stronger together.
 New Delhi Office
Cluster Office for Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives,
United Nations Nepal and Sri Lanka
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Year 1 AC (After Coronavirus)

Pan India Online Essay Contest 2020

Essay Topic: What will be the role of young people

in addressing the crisis caused by the pandemic
and related issues, such as new balances in power,
raising inequalities and reduced employment
opportunities?

Varalika Singh
Delhi Public School Ghaziabad
Congratulations, reader; you and I have made it this far. It is
Meerut Road, Uttar Pradesh our sheer privilege or just luck. The COVID-19 pandemic has
cradled the world to a disorder that extends beyond the con-
Category - Youth fines of stature, borders, and identity. A common misconcep-
tion of this virus is that it treats all the same; it does not. It has
irrevocably cast a shroud over this naïve narrative. The elderly, the immunocompromised,
the ill-equipped healthcare workers, and workers of crematoriums are all at the furrows of
vulnerability.

Moreover, an objectified fear of a corpse is undoubtedly not what we expected when we

talked of a zombie apocalypse. This rampant union of a virus has begun its narration of
humankind tale of struggle, entwined by a rendition of social, political, and communal
inequality. It accounts for how it surfaced the deep-rooted depravity, conceived centuries
ago and is still fed by the venoms of hatred and hostility.

Forced in confrontation with the burning certainty of humanity’s mortality, minds world-
wide are engaging themselves in new ideas, objectives, and aspirations. Since the begin-
ning of time, the idealistic and rational dichotomy of thought has turned the cogs of decid-
ing humanity’s future. Will it wither to an heirloom of ruin or showcase the triumph of the
new generation to unite? Humanity’s greatest vices have been delicately kept alive with
the sword of misguided nationalism, xenophobia, racism, and homophobia, which often
overlap. It has since been stained by the encrusted blood, heavy breaths and the dying fire
in the souls of those who dared to be themselves and to exist. But fear not, for this blade is
cracking. It might be a boy of 15 in Dharavi, who decided to write the daring tale of putting
on kajal stolen from his mother’s purse. It could be a girl of 8 in Varanasi, who adjusted the
sheer dupatta acting as a mask, to speak out against the islamophobia-soaked rhetoric.
The youth knows that not one morsel of a romanticized future is impossible without soli-
darity, a resolute purpose of changing and universally understood accords of cooperation
and collaboration.

Building trust in communities and institutions is a crucial component of erecting inclusivi-

ty-driven and potentially diverse societies. We need to rethink the capitalist model of orga-
nization and develop a socio-economic framework with people and their interests at the
center. Global leaders like Jacinda Arden, the prime minister of New Zealand, who subscribe
to the active perception of deprioritizing economic growth and prioritizing public health,
are true beacons of hope. In the sphere of bringing change on the diplomatic frontiers, the
lines between altruism and strategic interest have been blurred. The future organizations of
governance and administration must be built upon the foundations of prudence, prompt-
ness, and palpability. Be it the COVID-19 pandemic or battles gasping for an armistice, the
youth cannot let any forces of destruction spill the future in the most macabre of chasms.

United by pixels on a screen, the younger generation is equipped with the best device for
sustenance, literally. In these dire times, technology is the perfect tool for educating oneself
and forging new ideas and principles to live by. This period will undoubtedly be embla-
zoned ‘the 2020 pandemic’ as scarlet headlines on newspapers and phone screens to come.
One of the most dreadful and distressing times in our life will emerge with etchings of more
profound gratitude and acceptance, models of healthier civil societies, and manifestly so, a
united future. We must remember Friedrich Nietzsche’s words, “There are no beautiful sur-
faces without a terrible depth.”
 New Delhi Office
Cluster Office for Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives,
United Nations Nepal and Sri Lanka
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&XOWXUDO2UJDQL]DWLRQ

Year 1 AC (After Coronavirus)

Pan India Online Essay Contest 2020

Essay Topic: Science and health: what should we

change to be more resilient?

2020 is turning out to be a tumultuous year due to the

Yasha Jain COVID-19 outbreak. However, this is not the first time in
Pathways World School history that humanity has been hit with such an outbreak.
Aravali, Gurugram, Haryana Ebola killed thousands in 2013-2016; SARS in 2003; Influenza
in 1957- 1958 killed over a million, and the Spanish flu killed
Category - Children over 50 million in 1918-1920.

Today it is COVID-19. Tomorrow another widespread pandemic could challenge us even

more. To tackle future viruses and pandemics, we need to be more resilient, especially by
focusing on our health-related and scientific capabilities.

Firstly, combating virus attacks, we at individual level require strong immunity; therefore,
we must maintain a healthier lifestyle. Further, enabling our bodies to build resilience and
fight effectively when infected. Physical exercise and healthy eating strengthens immunity
and increases physical resilience. A high immunity also ensures that we do not suffer from
other acute illnesses, and are susceptible to such virus attacks. Furthermore, raising aware-
ness and promoting hygiene practices such as washing hands regularly and wearing
masks will decrease the chances of people catching viruses and other immunity-weaken-
ing diseases.

It is not just physical resilience, though, that makes one more energetic. Mental strength,
too, is imperative to staying resilient. When faced with challenges and new realities such as
homeschooling, working from home, and lack of physical contact with family and friends,
it is vital to stay mentally strong.

A recent study found that psychological distress is common both during periods of quar-
antine. Researchers suggest that steps such as establishing routines, being active, commu-
nicating with loved ones, and staying informed but not overwhelmed help mitigate
adverse mental health effects of quarantine. People need to know about these steps so that
they can help themselves and others around them.

While individuals can protect themselves by focusing on their physical and mental resil-
ience, governments also need to strengthen their scientific capabilities. As per World Bank,
while the current healthcare expenditure of the world as % of GDP is at 9.9%, it is a meager
2-3% in many developing countries like India, Ethiopia, Malaysia and Pakistan. With better
healthcare funding across countries, many lives can be saved.

A significant portion of this increased funding must be channeled towards exploring and
studying new viruses that could potentially impact us. The more we know about them, the
sooner treatments will be made available. We must also leverage science to increase the
exploration and discovery of new viruses and to develop more medical procedures and vac-
cines to help with recovery and fight infections in the first place.

Developing scientific resilience has helped us in the past too. An example of this is the Influ-
enza virus pandemic that took the world by storm just over 100 years ago. According to the
CDC, the outbreak caused ~50 million deaths worldwide. With the development of effective
treatments and medications, these deaths are now limited to an estimated 24,000 – 62,000
only from October 2019 to April 2020. This is a perfect example of the appropriate scientific
focus and research investment that leads to human resilience development.

The more we learn about viruses, the faster we can develop medicines and treatments for
them that could save thousands of lives in the future. The faster our people change their
lifestyles to become more immune physically and mentally, the quicker we will recover
from the damage this pandemic has caused us. Resilience is what will help us rebuild,
reform, and recover from the damage COVID-19 has caused. Then, if we are faced with a
new pandemic, we will be ready.